Obituary: Thomas Francis “Frank” Tyrrell, Jr., 94, Longest Serving School Committee Member

Thomas Francis “Frank” Tyrrell, Jr., passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

Born Dec. 24, 1917, in Salem, he was the son of the late Thomas Francis Tyrrell, Sr., and Elsie Tuxbury Tyrell. He moved to Danvers as an infant and was educated in the Danvers schools. He was a graduate of Holten High School, class of 1936. He attended Bryant and Stratton Commercial School in Boston from 1938–1939. He was in the U.S. Army from 1942-1943. In 1946 he married Mildred B. Hall and they enjoyed 49 years of marriage until Mildred’s death in 1995.

Mr. Tyrrell was employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance, Lumbermans Mutual Insurance Co. and Continental Casualty Insurance Co. Having worked for forty years in the insurance industry as a field auditor, he retired in 1987 from Continental.

Mr. Tyrrell was a volunteer and lifelong resident who served the town of Danvers in many capacities. He was a member of the Danvers Republican Town Committee, Town Meeting member for over 40 years, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Board of Appeals and member of the Rent Control Board. He was elected to the Danvers School Committee in 1959 and served for 21 years, longer than any other member in the history of Danvers. He was chairman during six of those years. He was also the Danvers representative to the North Shore Vocational School District for 25 years. He served as Secretary for eight years and Vice-Chairman for two years. He became a life member of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees in 1998.

Mr. Tyrrell was elected to the Peabody Institute Library Board of Trustees in 1996 and was still serving right up until September of this year. He was past President of the local chapter of AARP, board member of the Danvers Historical Society and served on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Council of Aging. He was a Charter Member and past President of the Danvers Kiwanis Club. At one time Mr. Tyrrell was also Lt. Governor and Treasurer for the NE District of Kiwanis. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Retarded Citizens and was appointed by Governors Volpe and Sargent to the Massachusetts State Board of Mental Retardation.

He was a Grange member for over 65 years and a member of the Amity-Mosaic Lodge of Masons for over 60 years. In addition to all of the above he was a 2005 DEEP Hall of Honor Recipient as a Friend of the Danvers Public Schools and a 2006 recipient of the Baron Mayer award for outstanding volunteerism. During town, state and national elections, he worked at the polls for the Town of Danvers.

On March 4, 2004, on the occasion of the 250th Annual Town Meeting, Frank was recognized and honored for having served the Town of Danvers for 50 or more years. That service continued until 2012.

Frank is survived by his three daughters and son-in-law, Brenda Tutko and her husband, Retired Danvers Fire Chief, James P. Tutko, Deborah A. Tyrrell of Salem, Gail P. Tyrrell of Danvers, and by his three grandchildren; Erica Tutko and Hillary Tutko of South Boston and James P. Tutko Jr. of New York, N.Y.

Along with all of his volunteer activities, Frank has been a devoted husband, father and friend to all.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Friday Sept. 28, 2012 at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers, at 11:30 a.m. All other services will be private. In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to Strays in Need, P.O. Box 223, Danvers MA or to North Shore ARC, 64 Holten St., Danvers MA.

Assisting the family is the Mackey Funeral Home, Danvers. See www.mackeyfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence.